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Stephanie laid on her bed just staring up at the ceiling feeling down in the dumps. It had been a week since her horrible uncomfortable date with Zach, thanks to Paul. She hadn't heard from Zach since that night and she couldn't blame him. What kind of person would want to try another date after what had happened? Even though it sucked he hadn't try to have contact with her it didn't really bother her as much as her situation with Paul. He just showed up during and after her date to tell her Zach wasn't right for. All she had wanted that night after asking him who was right for her was for him to say himself and kiss her. Unfortunately that didn't happen and it left her upset for going through all of that to ruin her date. She was still wondering how he even knew where Zach had taken her on their date.

It didn't look like she would find out though because even though she still wanted to talk to Shane she hadn't even attempted to go to his apartment. She was still irritated at Paul and for the first time in her life, she didn't want to be near him. So she had avoided that place like the plague which meant all week she hadn't done much of anything but maybe visit Ali.

"Stephanie can you come down here?" She heard her mother call from downstairs breaking her out of her thoughts.

Stephanie rolled off the bed and on to her feet and headed downstairs.

"I'm so glad you are here maybe you can help" Stephanie heard Linda say as she descended down the stairs with her heart racing. Was her mother talking about her and if she was did she call Paul? Stephanie was almost down the stairs when she heard another voice and she wanted to run quickly back up the stairs before anyone noticed.

"Stephanie" she heard the sickly sweet fake voice after she had turned her back and was going to run back upstairs.

"Melanie" Stephanie said turning back around to her face her. She didn't even try to keep the annoyance out of her voice, she didn't feeling like playing charades today.

"Linda was telling me you haven't been yourself" Melanie said putting her hand on chest and gave her a fake look of sympathy.

"Don't even pretend to care. You want to take any happiness I have away" Stephanie retorted. Yes she was taking her anger out on Melanie because she couldn't take it out on Paul. It wasn't like the bitch didn't deserve it though.

"Stephanie!" Linda said crossing her arms "Melanie is trying to be your friend again. You don't need to be treating her this way"

"It's okay Linda" Melanie replied looking over at Linda "I know it is going to take time"

Stephanie rolled her eyes at how gullible Linda was and she was irritated that her mother keep taking up for Melanie. When would she just stop butting in her life?

"Is this over Paul?" Melanie asked looking back at Stephanie. She could see the excitement on Melanie's face. Stephanie knew that was exactly what she was hoping for.

"Paul? What about him?" Linda asked looking at Stephanie.

"They recently told me that they were basically together" Melanie replied giving a shrug of her shoulders.

"But you went on a date with Zach" Linda replied sounding confused as a smile started spreading across Melanie's face. She had got exactly what she wanted and it just seemed so damn easy. Why did she let herself get tricked into this?

"Stephanie I want you to explain this" Linda said in a stern voice.

"I promise I will later but right now.." Oh God she couldn't believe she was about to say this but "I want to talk to Melanie"

"Since you are willing to make an effort with Melanie that is fine with me" Linda said her voice softening "but you and I will talk about this later"

"Fine mom"

"Tamara is the in the kitchen so I'm going to go back in there. Be nice Stephanie" Linda replied and headed back to the kitchen. Stephanie hated that her mother was treating her like she was still in high school but hell lately it seemed like she was.

Stephanie made her way completely down the stairs and stood a few inches from Melanie and crossed her arms.

"What the hell was that?" Stephanie asked feeling angry as Melanie tossed her blonde locks over her shoulder.

"Catching you in your lie" Melanie replied dropping her façade now that Linda was out of the room.

"I wasn't lying" Stephanie replied clenching her teeth.

"Then why are you dating other guys?" Melanie asked arching her brow. Stephanie couldn't tell her the truth because if she knew about the situation she knew Melanie could use it to her advantage.

"That is what I thought" Melanie smirked after Stephanie remained silent.

"He doesn't want you" Stephanie said but Melanie's smirk remained.

"Apparently he doesn't want you either but he doesn't really know me yet. I can always change his mind but from what I understand you two have been friends for years and he still doesn't like you the way you obviously want him to" Melanie replied with a laugh and Stephanie had to restrain herself from slapping her so hard she would taste blood.

"If he hasn't changed his mind in years about me what makes you think he will change his mind about you?"

"I have my ways Stephanie" Melanie said but indulged no further information.

"Girls why don't you come join us for tea" Stephanie heard Linda say breaking her penetrating stare from Melanie. Linda had came back into the room, probably to check on them.

Stephanie slowly made her way into the kitchen behind Melanie. She didn't want any more of her mother's lectures right now so she sat down in a chair and remained silent for the rest of the time Tamara and Melanie were there.

Stephanie sat silently as Linda poured herself another cup of tea. Melanie and Tamara were leaving but Linda didn't walk them out, instead she waited until they heard the faint sound of the front door opening and closing.

"Tell me what is going on" Linda said breaking the silence and Stephanie looked down staring at the counter.

"Nothing mom it was a joke"

"Don't lie to me Stephanie. I know when you're lying, you are bad at it" Linda said as Stephanie looked up at her seeing the stern expression across her mother's face.

"What do you want to know?" Stephanie asked not really sure if should tell her mother about it all.

"Why did you go on a date with Zach if you told Melanie you and Paul were together?"

"Because he asked me and…Paul and I can't be together" Stephanie replied telling her mother the truth. It wasn't like she could lie and her mother seemed to already have her suspicions about her and Paul.

"Why can't you be together" Linda asked softly as she placed her hand on Stephanie's arm. Stephanie thought it was probably to try and comfort her.

"Shane basically forbid it and with Shane being Paul's best friend, he doesn't want to go against him"

"I can see why he wouldn't want to feel like he betrayed Shane and hurt him but he's also hurting you in this process. Shane can get over this and I think he will eventually. Its just Shane is as stubborn as your father and he thinks he is doing right by trying to make sure you don't get hurt but honestly I think he is hurting you worse by not letting this happen" Linda explained and Stephanie stared into her eyes as Linda smiled at her. Did this mean she was on her side for once?

"I don't know if he will get over it mom and I like Paul so much. All I have ever wanted was for him to like me back and now he does and Shane is ruining everything"

"How long has this been going on Stephanie?"

"Since I got back"

"No I meant how long have you felt this way?" Linda asked and Stephanie looked away for a moment feeling embarrassed.

"Since I was fifteen" Stephanie replied and Linda nodded her head.

"I thought so" Linda replied "Every time Paul was here that was were you were. Then the way you looked at him and the way he would look at you. He would do anything to get you to smile"

"No mom you misunderstood. It was me who liked him at fifteen, he didn't like me like that" Stephanie said shaking her head.

"I think he had a crush on you too but he was older and he knew better. He knew he couldn't do anything and I respect him for not trying but he felt something for you too you just didn't know. Doesn't it make sense why now he lets you know he likes you back?" Linda asked tilting her head to the side. Stephanie thought about it for a moment but she was unconvinced. She remembered that night she tried to kiss him, the look on his face and the speech he gave after.

"It really doesn't matter now mom. It's over" Stephanie replied shrugging her shoulders.

"Not if you don't let it be" Linda said shocking Stephanie.

"What are you suggesting? That we go behind Shane's back?"

"I think you will think of something but don't give up Stephanie. I know Paul cares about you and I think Shane will eventually come around. I would suggest trying to talk to Shane and letting him know this is hurting you worse than if things ended badly between you and Paul. Maybe you can play on his feelings of not wanting you to get hurt when he is the one causing you pain right now" Linda replied standing up and taking her cup to the sink. Stephanie couldn't believe the advice she just gave her basically telling her to manipulate Shane. It might actual work though.

"Thanks mom" Stephanie said with a smile. It was the first time in a week she had even felt like smiling. Stephanie jumped up from her seat and started to leave.

"Where are you going?" Linda asked and Stephanie turned around.

"To talk to Shane" Stephanie replied and turned back around and made her way out of the kitchen.


It didn't take her long to arrive at their apartment. Stephanie was still in her car though drumming her fingers against the steering wheel feeling nervous. Before she had got there she was feeling confident and happy and now she was staring at the building scared of going in. This seemed like such a good idea before she got here and thought about how Shane would actually react to this. Then she had to see Paul after what had happened last week and she was still irritated at him but she was nervous too of how he would treat her. Would he be cold and distant again?

Finally after convincing herself that she could do this, she stepped out of the car and shut it behind her. Stephanie went to readjust her clothes and that was when she realized she forgot to change before coming over. She was still in a white tank top and gray sweatpants, it wasn't what she really wanted Paul to see her in. Now she wished she hadn't been moping all day because she would of got up and threw something cute on at least. Oh well this would of have to do. Stephanie walked into the building and went straight to the elevator pressing the button.

When the doors opened she stepped inside and pushed the number to their floor. It didn't take long before the doors reopened and she was walking to their door and knocked.

"Hold on" Stephanie heard Paul's voice. Stephanie stood and waited for a minute or two and then the door opened and Paul was standing in front of her. She could feel herself drooling as she stared at the sight in front of her. He was standing there shirtless and wearing his track pants while he ran a towel through his hair. She had never seen him without a shirt and she couldn't help but run her eyes over his muscular torso fighting the urge to run her hand over it. Her irritation from last week seem to dissipate at that moment.

"Are you okay?" Paul asked and she finally looked up at his face to see him smirking at her.

"Yeah I'm fine" Stephanie replied clearing her throat as he stepped aside to let her in.

"Where is Shane?" Stephanie asked trying hard not to stare at him as she passed him.

"He'll be back soon. He just left to go pick some food up so make yourself at home" Paul replied as he headed towards his bedroom.

Stephanie stared at him until he was no longer in sight and made her way to the couch and sat down. The tv remote was laying on the couch beside of her so she grabbed it and flipped through the channels until she found one of her favorite movies on. She needed something to distract her from thinking about Paul without his shirt which led to thoughts about Paul without any of his clothes. Stephanie snapped herself out of her thoughts trying to refocus on the movie.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Stephanie heard Paul ask and she turned around to see him putting on a black tank top.

"I don't know, maybe" Stephanie replied turning back around quickly. It all depended on how Shane reacted to what she had to say.

Stephanie went back to her movie and finally was able to focus on it. After a few moments she was mouthing the words to her one of her favorite parts when she noticed Paul sit down beside of her from the corner of her eye. She kept focusing on the movie though because her favorite line in probably the whole movie was coming up when suddenly the channel changed to sports. Stephanie looked over at Paul who was holding the tv remote now. Oh why did she lay it down? She should of known something like that would happen.

"Paul! Turn it back"

"I am not watching a chick flick. It's just not happening, sorry"

"Come on. You told me to make myself at home" Stephanie reminded him and he just shook his head at her.

Stephanie waited for him to turn his attention to the tv and then she tried snatching the remote away but he apparently had been anticipating it and switched it to his other hand. Then he stretched his arm across the other side of the sofa trying to make sure she didn't get the remote. She wasn't giving up that easy though as she tried leaning across him to grab it. She felt his body start shaking as he started laughing.

"It's not funny Paul" Stephanie said as she started feeling irritated.

She almost had it when he raised his arm and stretched it behind him over the back of the couch. Stephanie raised up from her leaning position trying to figure out how to pin him so she could grab it from him. She looked at him and he smiled knowing she wouldn't be able to get it away from him no matter what she tried but she didn't care. She was going to try like hell to get it even if she didn't succeed. Trying to lean over the back of the couch and trying to grab it was useless so there was only one way she knew how to get to it easier. Stephanie without giving a second thought moved over on top of him, straddling him and reached behind him grabbing the edge of the remote. She kept pulling as it started to slide out of his hand but he regained control and pulled it out of her grasp completely and stretched his arm up over his head as far as it would go. Stephanie was sure she could get it now, he had no where to go now that she was straddling him. She reached up and her fingers found the bottom of the remote and he tried reaching his arm further and failed as he lost his grip and she pulled it out from his hand. Raising her arms in victory as she sat back down still straddling his lap and smiled a victorious smile at him but he just smiled back and shook his head. She sat there for a moment trying to calm her breathing, wrestling with him had got her out of breath. After she calmed down she went to remove herself from his lap hoping she could at least catch some other parts of the movie she liked when his hands grabbed the side of her hips and pulling her back on top of him. Stephanie opened her mouth to tell him she had won and he wasn't getting back but she stopped when she noticed he was no longer playing around.

His eyes were full of desire as she felt his hands start sliding from her hips to the edge of her tank top slipping his hands underneath running his hands over the sides of her stomach taking her shirt with them. The feel of his hands on her body made her burn with desire every little inch he made. Her heart beating wildly anticipating his touch as he reached her breasts but he kept sliding his hands along with her shirt until she raised her arms allowing him to pull it completely off of her. His eyes scanned over her half naked body and on to her white lacey bra bringing his hands back to her breasts fondling them through the fabric of her bra. She moaned as he rolled his thumbs over her now erect nipples causing her to grind her hips feeling his erection beneath her. He moaned and freed one of her breasts sliding his hand along the band of the bra around to the back to unhook it. Once the hooks came undone she slid the straps down her arms exposing her breasts to him. He pulled her closer to him planting soft kisses on her breast before she felt his mouth and then his teeth bite down gently on her nipple and flick the end with his tongue sending a wave of pleasure through her body.

Throwing her head back in the ecstasy feeling herself become more wet than she already had been. She rocked back and forth on his lap feeling his erection up against her wanting more, she closed her eyes getting lost in the sensations. Her pulse still racing, skin flushed and feeling the need of her release. She wanted him here and now, she didn't care about all the reason they shouldn't.

"I want you" Stephanie whispered so low she didn't even know if he had heard her but after a moment his mouth left her breast. He looked up at her before bringing her closer bringing his lips to hers kissing her passionately before he lifted her off him laying her down on the couch. His fingers instantly reaching the waistband of her pants, he started to pull them down but then froze. Stephanie felt disappointment wash over her as he stopped. She felt stupid for letting it go this far because apparently he really wasn't going to go against what Shane wanted but after a moment she heard something at the front door. Oh God it was Shane.